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Friday 8 January 2016

5 OF THE COOLEST CARS AT THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW 2016


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The Coolest Cars At CES 2016: Faraday Future Concept, Chevrolet Bolt EV, BMW i8 Mirrorless Car And More
By Aaron Mamiit,
Tech Times, 7 January 2016.

CES 2016 is well underway, and for car enthusiasts, the annual tech show is shaping up to be one of the best ones yet.

The space dedicated to auto tech in CES 2016 is 25 percent more compared to that of last year's show, with a total of nine automakers and 115 suppliers showing off everything from small upgrades to vehicles being launched into the market to futuristic concepts.

Here are some of the coolest cars at CES 2016.

1. Faraday Future FFZero1

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What could very well be the standout among all car tech in CES 2016 is the Faraday Future concept car named the FFZero1. It is claimed to be the fastest electric car, and it sure helps that it looks like the Batmobile.

The FFZero1 is capable of going from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds, and is able to reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour through its engine that powers out 1,000 horsepower from its four motors.

All this power is packed into an electric vehicle with a sleek design and a winged look, interiors of white carbon fibre and a black and silver paint job. In addition to its speed, the FFZero1 also takes into account the driver's safety with a built-in helmet and the Halo Safety System.

California-based Faraday Future kept details of the electric vehicle under wraps before the show, but a pair of details have remained constant. The FFZero1 is planned to be released in 2017, and it is being geared as a major competitor to Tesla Motors.

2. 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

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Photo: Chevrolet

From a futuristic electric vehicle, we move to one that is an upgrade to a car that could already be seen in the streets with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

Consumer Reports is already ranking owners of the Chevrolet Bolt EV as among the most satisfied with their vehicles, and Chevrolet is looking to build upon that with the presentation of the vehicle at CES 2016.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV features a range of 200 miles and the capability to be charged up to 80 percent of full capacity in just one hour. The new Bolt EV will also be Chevrolet's first all-electric car to feature support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In addition, the vehicle will also have what General Motors CEO Mary Barra refers to as a "floating instrument panel" that drivers will be able enjoy through a 10.2-inch screen that it larger than an iPad Air.

There is no definite price yet for the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, but according to Barra, it will be about US$30,000.

3. BMW i8 Mirrorless Concept

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Photos: BMW Blog

BMW's i8 Mirrorless concept, as the name states, features no side view and rear view mirrors. Instead, the side mirrors are replaced by wings that are actually cameras facing backwards, and any hazards that the cameras detect such as another vehicle in a blind spot will lead to yellow warning lights to alert the driver. The wings that replace the side mirrors will also serve as signal indicators.

For the rear view mirror, BMW replaces it with an LCD display at the top of the windshield. Once driving starts, the LCD display will collate all the information that the system collects from the vehicle's four cameras and show it as one image.

4. Mercedes Benz Concept IAA

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Photo: Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes Benz Concept IAA was displayed as a sculpture at the car company's area in CES 2016, and the most interesting part about it was that it featured a glowing dashboard, which is a technology that the company will be adding to the upcoming E-Class sedan.

The glowing dashboard features two separate screens that are actually only one very long HD monitor, with the left half of the screen serving the driver and the right half serving both the driver and the passenger. The display is very customizable, and can be adjusted through a pair of small touchpads placed on the steering wheel.

5. Toyota FCV Plus

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Photo: Toyota

Toyota revealed the FCV Plus, which is a hydrogen-powered vehicle that is able to share its energy with the FV2, a companion machine that looks similar to a futuristic motorcycle sidecar. Toyota's foray into hydrogen power is significant as it explores another fuel alternative in addition to electric cars.

Top image: Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept. Credit: Faraday Future via YouTube.

[Source: Tech Times. Edited. Some images and links added.]

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